How to Remove Bad Odors from a Crawl Space

Angela asked: How do I remove rotten food odors in the crawl space from a broken sink drain? The drain pipe under my house for the kitchen sink broke, and everything that was washed down the drain (garbage disposal waste, dirty rinse water, cleaning products). These are now piled up on the gravel in the crawl space of my home. I’m not sure how long it was like that, but I think the cold weather was covering up the smell. Now that it is warmer, the smell is sickening and unbearable. The crawl space is not easy to access. What can I put on the pile to dissolve it or get rid of the smell? I believe it has soaked into the ground underneath, so removing the food won’t remove the smell.

Once moisture penetrates a crawl space, mold, mildew, and their companionable odors are sure to follow. Unfortunately, there’s not a fast and easy solution to these odor problems. The most effective tactic is a good moisture barrier (also known as a vapor barrier), and for that you need to call in a professional. For a short term solution, you can give this a try.

Do not attempt to do this when it’s raining. Likewise, make sure the fan and all electrical connections are clean and dry and the cord is in good repair.

In many cases, the added air circulation will serve to dry the crawl space, ridding it of the odor resulting from mold and/or mildew.

Another (likely more expensive) option is to use a dehumidifier. Consult with a professional at a home improvement store to determine the size and model that might be right for your job.

If you want the food to decompose faster, check into purchasing enzymes that are used in composters. These can be spread over the debris to help the decomposition along. The sooner the food is decomposed, the sooner your problems will be gone. The enzymes are available from many online stores. Enzymes can also be used on urine or virtually any other organic matter.

Bob,
Yes, lime can help to remove odors. However, there are numerous downsides to using lime, including that it is dangerous to work with or be around, especially for any kids or pets that might go into the crawl space. If you can’t find the source of the odor and need to use an odor absorber, try using bowls filled with safer odor absorbers, such as baking soda, coffee grounds, white vinegar, or charcoal. You can just set a couple bowls filled with one of those odor absorbers next to the area that smells bad or throughout the crawlspace and let it sit overnight, then remove the bowls in a day or two. Or, instead of using bowls, simply sprinkle one of the powdered options down as you would the lime. Charcoal is said to work particularly well for removing organic odors. If you do use bowls, you could use a Tupperware so that you can put lids on them for moving through the crawl space. There are also commercial odor removers, such as Odorzout, that you could use. However, the best method is the one described in the article for ventilating the crawl space.
Source: eHow – How to Use Lime to Get Rid of an Odor
Source: SFGate – Is Life for the Yard Safe for Kids?
Source: InspectionNews: Thread – Lime in crawl space
Source: HowToCleanStuff.net – How to Remove Rotten Food Odor from House